When the Nikon 1 J2 compact system camera ships next month, it will bring with it a change in operation that makes it subtly more intuitive than its predecessors, the J1 and V1. Unlike those models, the J2 can be powered off simply by locking the lens barrel of the attached zoom lens.

By contrast, while the earlier cameras could be powered on with the locking button when extending the lens, retracting the lens had no effect. The camera would remain powered on until the Auto Power Off timer elapsed, and then go to sleep, but that was all.

The new feature relies on support from the lens itself, and so the company has issued updates for both the 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 and 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 lenses. If you're planning on purchasing the J2, you can now update your lenses to support the new capability. Sensibly, the J2's shutdown on lens retraction also works if the camera had previously placed itself in standby mode to save power.

Note that the new behavior applies only when using these lenses with the J2; Nikon states that the change applies to cameras released--as opposed to manufactured--on, or after, August 2012. For users who intend to remain with the J1 or V1, there seems no need to upgrade: no other changes are noted by Nikon in the new firmware.

More details and the firmware updates can be found on Nikon's US and European websites: